#daydreamer

Hi guys, welcome to the start of my process videos for Project Life 2014! In this video I talk a little about my photo processing (big shout out to Persnickety Prints!) and continuing to prepare the album, and then I dive right in to making layouts. Have a look at the video:

Yeah, so when I left you last week, my task list was made, and I needed to have more photos printed. I went in and placed sticky notes with dates and what photo was supposed to go in each pocket, so I could easily place them and move forward.

I wish I could say that placing those photos was *that easy!* Ha! When the photos arrived from Persnickety (thanks to my printer dying!), I completely neglected to notice that the numbers were in fact on the back of the prints. So placing the photos in the album became somewhat frustrating for me! Not to worry, I just placed the ones I needed in order to complete this layout, and went with it.

I ended up adding an insert. The right side of this layout ended up being part of the week prior, and so Week 18 starts on the insert.

I think the main lesson to learn in this week’s layout isn’t necessarily technique or creative use of product, but rather to learn to set aside that which frustrates, in order to get something done. I think it is important to begin to get layouts done in our albums so we get a feeling of accomplishment. The accomplishment is what moves us forward. If I had allowed myself to keep fighting with photos, what would have ended up happening is that I would have put it all away and not wanted to touch it again for a while. We have all had that happen, right, where we were so determined to get this one thing done and it didn’t work out?

I am right there with you! So when that happens, put the thing away that frustrates you and start getting a layout done. Every week that you get a layout done is another week you put the album away with positive feelings of accomplishment!

I think in scrapbooking, we need to feel that sense of accomplishment in order to keep moving forward. In order to keep bringing the album off the shelf and keep creating layouts, we need to feel that something is getting done. For this week, one layout is done.

As we get a little done each week, each week a layout, then we start to see real, quantifiable progress towards completion.

So I just wanted to point out a few specifics about how I am documenting this construction project. I chose a set of monthly circles from Paislee Press back in 2014 that I decided to use on the photos that I wanted to emphasize. I knew I wanted to easily identify the dates of these photos and be consistent in marking those dates. I wanted it to flow throughout the project so you could easily follow the dates and progress.

You will find this single element repeated throughout the construction project. I think this is important since I am not necessarily keeping one week per layout, as well. I am still noting the weeks, but at this stage I want the actual days to be the focus.

It was also important to me to document how our children were central to this project. They went to the job site with us every time. They helped us when it was time to do the sweat equity portion. They got excited over the spaces and the process too.

We wanted our children to take ownership in this home too. We wanted them to feel included in the process and we wanted them to know exactly what all goes into building a home. We wanted them to feel it was theirs, too. It is theirs. It is their home that we built for them.

I am so thankful for these photos and for this project, and I am so thankful for you! Thank you for following along!